Kissing the Leper:
Where Fear Becomes Love
Sunday, September 13
9 a.m. Sundays at 7171 North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis and Online
Sunday, September 13, 2026
The story of St. Francis kissing the leper speaks to more than an act of compassion — it captures a moment of transformation. By embracing the leper, Francis embraced the parts of life so many try to avoid: suffering, vulnerability, mortality, and the humanity of those on the margins. Love, it turns out, grows not by avoiding what frightens us, but by moving toward it. This Sunday invites us to ask: "What would happen if, instead of turning away, we moved closer with compassion?"
3rd Quarter Little Give for SOAR
This quarter, our Little Give supports SOAR, an organization caring for cats, dogs, birds, reptiles and turtles when their owners cannot temporarily care for them. We’re inviting donations of cat litter, canned wet cat food, and paper towels. Your generosity makes a real difference!
Collection dates: September 13, 20, and 27. See Helen Payne with questions.
a newsletter featuring happenings at
7171 North Pennsylvania Street
and the community.
Made possible by a grant
from
Congregations with Community
Sharing in the journey of spiritual exploration through creativity, compassion, and care.
To create and inspire goodness and love in the world.
We are committed to Inclusiveness, Spiritual Growth, Creativity, Social Equity and Outreach.
The Garden is a reconciling ministry of the United Methodist Church, affirming everyone regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof, and affirming the dignity, worth and value of every person, emphasizing that we are loved and accepted just as we are. The Garden believes everyone has a divine purpose in this life and we work to help everyone find the spark of God in their hearts. Anyone is welcome on our leadership teams, in our church, and on our volunteer teams – no matter your story, you are welcomed and affirmed here.
The Garden is a leader of a forward-thinking movement, which encourages people to experience the holy in all of life, not just through the traditional format known as “church.” Those who experience The Garden find connections through common values more than through common beliefs. The Garden is: spiritual, not religious; accepting, not judgmental; seeking, not certain; inclusive, not exclusive; up-to-date, not limited by the past; and succeeds in blurring the lines between the sacred and secular. Those who are connected with The Garden are empowered and encouraged to think for themselves and to be wherever they are in their own life/spiritual journey without any expectation of a pre-determined or set destination.
In 1994, founding pastor Dr. Linda McCoy had a dream knowing God intended for her to do something far different in ministry. In 1995, The Garden church was planted, holding its first services at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. In 2016, The Garden became an independent church from its parent organization of St. Luke’s UMC and now stands strongly on its own, pastored by Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes. Officially chartered in June 2017, The Garden is now The Garden Community Church.
The Garden has a bit of a different vibe… Aside from being open, inclusive, and affirming, we find a deeper spirituality by blending the sacred and the secular. We demonstrate this through the use of popular secular music played live by live musicians, The Good Earth Band. While we take inspiration from the life of Jesus for messaging, we welcome everyone without agenda–-we seek to convert no one. Instead, we aim to create a comforting space where people of many paths can feel welcome.
The Garden meets in the sanctuary at First Congregational United Church of Christ Indy at 7171 North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis. If you have questions, our friendly Hospitality Team can answer them and help you get acclimated.
We encourage children to attend service with their parents/caretakers to embrace the positive message and experience. Child care is unavailable. However, we offer children's programming simultaneously with our service.
Please join us on Sunday for a different kind of church experience!
Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes
Lead Pastor
Since September 2015, Reverend Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes has been the spiritual leader for The Garden Community Church. Pastor Carolyn is deeply ingrained into the life of the church and dedicated to The Garden’s future. Pastor Carolyn’s faith is driven by the music of all types, so The Garden’s progressive spiritual approach and blending of the sacred and secular truly fills her soul.
Originally from the Chicago area, Carolyn came to Indianapolis to study music at Butler University – Go Bulldogs! After graduation, Carolyn decided to stay in Indianapolis, where she worked in an office during the day, sang with her band at night, and spent Sundays at her church working as a soloist and eventually Children’s Music Director. After starting a successful program at Geist Christian Church, Carolyn was called to St. Luke’s UMC to work as the Children’s Music and Fine Arts Director.
It was from St. Luke’s that Carolyn felt called to explore full-time ordained ministry. She graduated with a Masters of Divinity from the Christian Theological Seminary in 1997 and was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1998. In 2005, Carolyn graduated with a Doctor of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. After graduation, she went to San Francisco to serve as an Intern at GLIDE Memorial UMC, a community known for its great diversity, community service, and outreach. She was at GLIDE until she was called to Avon Christian Church in west Indianapolis.
Carolyn and Avon Christian Church had just finished a building campaign. She was looking forward to catching her breath, but the UMC Bishop contacted her about coming to The Garden. The congregation was about to go independent from St. Luke’s UMC, and the founding pastor Dr. Linda McCoy was retiring. At first, she was reluctant to take on such a challenge. Coming to The Garden was not in HER plans; however, it was in God’s plan, and we know that God doesn’t always call one to what they want to do but to where we are needed. It seems we, both The Garden and Carolyn, needed each other.
Carolyn and Reverend Dr. Andrew Holmes, Lead Pastor at Roberts Park UMC, met while they were both working at St. Luke’s UMC and were married on 11/11/11. Carolyn says she and Andrew are a great example of how opposites attract or how faith can come together from different perspectives. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and reading. Carolyn has a creative spirit and enjoys living in that spirit. In fact, although it has never been published, Carolyn wrote a children’s book, entitled
My Neighborhood, about a group of children coming together in spirit in the midst of great tragedy.
Rev. Richard Brendan
Associate Pastor
Rev. Richard Brendan has been an ordained minister in the Indianapolis area for decades. During that time he has served as a pastor, hospice chaplain, founder and president of JourneysFire International, co-founder and emcee of the Walk the Talk speaker series, executive producer of a CD with Cathy Morris titled Sacred Romance (featuring the music of Cathy Morris and Richard giving voice to the mystic poetry of Rumi and Hafiz), and host and producer of a weekly talk radio show for over twenty years on 88.7fm, WICR at the University of Indianapolis. The show, JourneysFire with Richard Brendan, featured a full hour of conversation with leading visionaries and social change artists.
Betty Brandt
Director of Programming
Betty Brandt comes to us after serving as the Director of the Community for Contemplation & Justice at St. Luke’s UMC for 23 years. Betty was honored to be the Center for Interfaith Cooperation's Interfaith Ambassador of the Year in 2020. She finds and creates opportunities for The Garden's Faith in Action Team, coordinates the art gallery, and organizes the Sunday morning after-service class, “Together in 111.”
Arcy Clark
Director of Technology & Facilities
Arcy Clark is an Indianapolis area native, wife, and mother of three girls. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management & Computer Science at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Arcy started going to the Garden in 2021 and became a Member in 2022. She currently serves as Director of Operations. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, walking, and traveling.
Martha Heinrich
Director of Finance & Administration
Martha Heinrich was born in Chicago, lived in Winona Lake, Indiana, and has resided in Indianapolis for the past 50+ years. She has been attending the Garden since 2015, having personally helped Carolyn move boxes and all The Garden's possessions from St Luke's to the Broad Ripple Church office when The Garden became its own independent church. Martha currently serves as on the Garden Leadership Team, HR Committee, and as Director of Finance. Her favorite restaurant is Bonge's Tavern and her personal mantra is: we can do this....it’s just not that hard.
Sharon Moore
Administrative Assistant
Sharon Moore is a retired nurse and an ordained minister. Besides directly caring for patients she served as the hospital ethicist and as a Parish Nurse as well as in-hospital administration. But she has always wanted to serve the church directly, and is finally able to do so in her “dream job” as the church secretary! She has two daughters, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, and is happy that all have decided to locate within a two-hour drive of Indianapolis so that visits are practical. Her home life is currently ruled by two cats and the old family house that is in constant need of some repair or another.
Doran Nash
Director of Music
Doran Nash is a graduate of Bellarmine University with a focus in Jazz studies and pedagogy. He is the keyboardist for LivingProof and a private teacher, instructor in voice, guitar and keyboards. In his spare time, Doran enjoys reading, dogs, and tinkering around his new/old house.
Matthew Vire
Director of Communications
Matthew Vire assists The Garden with all sorts of communications, service planning logistics, special projects, website development and maintenance, and whatever else may be needed. He appreciates The Garden’s less-traditional approach to church services, especially its manner of finding and highlighting the sacred in the secular. He has earned master’s degrees in Theatre, Psychology, and Business Administration. He lives in Indianapolis with his spouse, professional speaker and motivational comedian Kevin Wanzer, with whom he wrote I Love You When, a children’s book about unconditional love.
Scott Cunniff
Secretary
Hometown: Born in St Louis, grew up in Davenport, Iowa, which he considers his hometown, and current resident of Indianapolis since 1988.
Gardner Since: c. 2004, after attending 2003 Christmas Service
Favorite Garden Experiences: The wonderful music, spiritual messages, and the casual, accepting atmosphere.
Interests: Scott is a proud father and grandfather, recently retired, and hopes to spend more of his free time going on trips, visiting friends and family, and volunteering.
Mantra: You shouldn't wait to start enjoying your life more. Start Now!
Jill George
HR Committee Chair
Jill was born in Indy. In 1989 she moved to Birmingham, MI and then on to Columbus, Ohio, returning to her Indiana home in 2001. She originally attended The Garden from 2005-2012. After some time away, she found her way back to The Garden in 2024 and became a member in 2026. Both her boys live close to her in Indy and she is a proud grandmother of two delightful granddaughters.
Glenna Lykens
Outreach Committee Chair
Hometown: Port Clinton, Ohio; a resident of Indianapolis since 1993
Gardener Since: Began attending The Garden at Beef & Boards around 2010
Favorite Garden Experiences: The Good Earth Band’s music, the programs in Together Togather, participating in Shalom Zone, the weekly Sunday messages
Favorite Restaurant: Puccinis
Mantra: In a world where you can be anything, be kind.
Other Interests: Spending time with family, meeting up with friends, reading, snorkeling, golfing.
Mike Lykens
Building Committee Chair
Hometown: Port Clinton, Ohio; a resident of Indianapolis since 1993
Gardener Since: Began attending The Garden at Beef & Boards around 2010
Favorite Garden Experiences: The Good Earth Band, participating in Soup’s On at Roberts Park
Favorite Restaurant: Harry & Izzy’s
Mantra: Lead with kindness; live with gratitude.
Other Interests: Volunteer work with Indy Sports Corp and IU Natatorium, spending time with family and grandchildren, working in the yard.
Shannon Robinson
Faith in Action Committee Chair
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Gardener Since: c. 2018
Favorite Good Earth Band Song: Days Like This
Favorite Restaurant: Harry & Izzy’s
Mantra:
I love who I am. I love where I am. I love what I’m doing.
Dean Schleppi
Finance Committee Chair
Hometown: New Albany, Ohio
Gardener Since: 2005
Favorite Garden Experience: When my Granddaughter, Orla, was confirmed as a Member of the Garden
Favorite Restaurant: LA Cafe, Whitestown, Indiana
Mantra: Just Keep Rowing the Boat
Other Interests: Golf, Grandchildren, Traveling to Venice, Florida and Farming
Elizabeth Young
Chairwoman
Hometown: Vincennes, Indiana
Gardener Since: c. 1995
Favorite Garden Experience: "Every Sunday is the best!"
Favorite Restaurant: Kona Jacks
Mantra:
Help me be a blessing to others.
Michael Bone Read
Keyboards
Michael Bone Read is a founding member and songwriter for the band Roadmaster. The band had five albums on Village and Mercury/Phonogram records, and toured extensively with Rush, Blue Oyster Cult, and others. He has worked with Gary Lewis, Len Barry, Henry Lee Summer, the Alligator Brothers, Carl Storie, and the Doo Band. He has re-recorded several Roadmaster songs that he authored and has released an eponymous cd entitled “FINALLY!” featuring these songs and several other songs he’s written over the years.
Michael Clark
Guitar
Michael Clark is a two-time Gold certified record producer, studio musician, writer, and arranger. He has worked with John Mellencamp, The Bob and Tom Show, ABC's Rodney, Vince Gill, John McEuen of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Gary Wright (Dream Weaver), Johnny Lang, Eddie Money, Larry Gatlin, Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders, Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits, Jimmy Ryser, Sam Bush of The Newgrass Revival, The Wright Brothers, Vassar Clements, Byron Berline, The Red, White and Bluegrass, The Arnold Chin Band, Shiloh Morning, Buck's Stove & Range Company, John Talbot of Mason Proffit, Carrie Newcomer, Brad Garrett of Everyone Loves Raymond, Haywood Banks, Todd Yohn, Pinkerd and Bowden, Tim Cavanaugh, Sean Morey, and continues to be a integral part of the Midwest music and recording scene.
Mike Kessler
Drums
Mike Kessler loves all things percussion, and can't remember a time when he did not play. In 2017, he gave up his career in the food service industry and began playing music full time. Although he values all that he learned over the years from chefs, farmers, and business people - making a living doing what he loves has been a real joy.
CONTACT US
To send us a message, please complete the form below.
